Ear protector



A. E. Y'ONAN EAR PROTECTOR Filed ,Jan. 29. 1969 FIG. I

INVENTOR. ALICE E. YONAN %94 k4 lA/A/LW FIG.3

FIG. 2

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,525,103 EAR PROTECTOR Alice E. Yonan, Keyes, Calif. (5831 Esmar Road, Ceres, Calif. 95307) Filed Jan. 29, 1969, Ser. No. 795,010 Int. Cl. A41d 21/00 US. Cl. 2--174 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ear protector designed to cover an ear, and being constructed of an outer layer constructed of water-repellent material, an inner layer constructed of soft-textured material and being secured to the outer layer and an adhesive preparation coated on the outer layer, for securing the protector to skin on and adjacent an ear to be covered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to ear protectors, and more particularly to an ear protector designed to prevent the entrance of foreign material into the ear.

Ear protectors have been well-known in the prior art. Some of the known protectors have been employed for the purpose of preventing the entrance of foreign material into the ear. The protectors which have been so employed have presented numerous disadvantages, with respect to both their construction and use. As one such disadvantage, many of the known protectors have been of relatively complex structure, and expensive to produce. As another disadvantage, may of the known protectors have been uncomfortable to wear. As a further disadvantage, the known protectors have often been too easily dislodged from position of use. -As a still further disadvantage, many of the known protectors have failed to provide sufficiently great protection against the entrance of foreign material into the ear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an ear protector, which is designed to overcome the above-discussed disadvantages, presented by the air protectors known in the prior art. The ear protector of the invention is of relatively simple structure and relatively inexpensive to produce. In addition, the ear protector of the invention is both easily mounted in position for use, and easily removed after use. The ear protector of the invention is also comfortable to wear. The ear protector of the invention, furthermore, will remain securely in position for use, until removed. In addition, the ear protector of the invention will provide a high degree of protection against the entrance of foreign material into the ear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ear protector constructed in accordance with the invention, and being shown mounted in a position for use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the ear protector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1 omitting an adhesive coating for clarity; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the ear protector of FIGS. 1-3 illustrating the adhesive coating.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an ear protector 10, constructed in accordance with the invention, and being shown in a position of use. The protector 10 provides an outer layer 12, and an inner layer 14 (see also FIGS. 2 and 3).

The outer layer 12 is constructed of a water-repellent material, such as, e.g., rubber, or a water-repellent plastic material. The inner layer 14 is constructed of a softtextured material, such as, e.g., gauze, or some other softtextured cloth or soft textured plastic.

The inner layer 14 is secured, as the outer surface 16 thereof, to the inner surface 18 0f the outer layer 12, by means of a suitable adhesive preparation. The layers 12, 14 are bent, so as to form a cavity 20', which is both suitably shaped and sufficiently large in size to receive an ear to be covered.

The layer 12 adjacent the peripheral edge 22 thereof, provides a mounting surface area, as seen at 24. The mounting surface area 24 is coated with an adhesive preparation 26 (see FIG. 4). The adhesive preparation 26 utilized is one which will adhere to the human skin.

The ear protector 10 may be employed for such purpose as protecting the ear during a hair-washing or hairdyeing operation and in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, the ear protector is placed in a position in which the ear to be protected is received within the cavity 20. At the same time, the protector 10 is secured in such position by pressing the mounting surface area 24 of the outer layer 12 against the skin of the head surrounding the ear and also the skin of the ear adjacent to the head. The adhesive preparation 26 then serves to maintain the protector 10 adhered to the skin, and in position for protecting the ear.

The protector 10 offers numerous advantages, as compared to the ear protectors known in the prior art. Thus, the protector 10 is of unusually simple structure, and comparatively inexpensive to produce. In addition, the protector 10 is comparatively easily mounted in position for use; and comparatively easily removed after a period of use. Furthermore, the protector 10 provides a great degree of comfort to the user thereof. As a further advan tage, the protector 10 will remain securely in position of use, until removed. As a still further advantage, the protector 10 provides unusually good protection against the entrance of liquid, or other foreign material into the ear being protected. The ear protector 10 of the present invention is particularly suitable and desirable for protecting the ears of swimmers and divers for preventingwater from entering the ears.

It is to be understood that modifications and variations of the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An ear protector of a size to cover an air, and compr1s1ng:

(a) an outer general cup-shaped preformed layer constructed of the water-repellent material, to substantially encompass the outer surface of a human ear said cup-shaped layer having a peripheral edge, the the outer layer having a peripheral mounting surface located adjacent the peripheral edge of said outer layer and adapted to contact the head surface skin adjacent the ear;

(b) an inner layer constructed of soft-textured material secured to the inner surface of said outer layer; and

(c) an adhesive preparation coated on said peripheral mounting surface to secure said protector to the head surface skin.

2. An ear protector in accordance with claim which said outer layer is constructed of rubber.

3. An ear protector in accordance with claim which said outer layer is of plastic construction.

4. An ear protector in accordance with claim which said inner layer is of cloth construction.

5. An ear protector in accordance with claim which said inner layer is formed of gauze.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 in 993,620 5/1911 Quinn 2+209 2,325,150 7/1943 Sahlmann 2209 1 in 5 2,456,167 12/1948 Arkus 2-a209 2,763,869 9/1956 Bogart et a1. 2174 1 in 2,899,683 8/1959 Wadsworth et a1. 2-209 4 in JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

